Rotary racks for kitchen cabinets and the like



June 18, 1963 H. B. MURRAY ROTARY RACKS FOR KITCHEN CABINETS AND THELIKE Filed Jan. 51, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllllllll'tk||lll'l..l||||ll|l| INVENTOR HILTON B. MURRAY ATTORNEY H. B. MURRAY June18, 1963 ROTARY RACKS FOR KIIGHEN CABINETS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 51,1961 Z Sh gtS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HILTON B. MURRAY Wu f a ATTORNEY 3,04,362ROTARY RACKS FOR KHQHEN CABINETS AND THE LIKE Hilton B. Murray, 66 N.Murray Place, York, Pa. Filed Jan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 36,196 3 Claims.(Cl. 312267) This invention relates to a rotary rack structure of whatmay be called the Ferris'wheel type, revolvable about a horizontal axis,and to the combination of such a rack structure with two householdkitchen cabinets whose lengths are at right angles to each other in anL-shaped arrangement forming a corner cabinet installation.

A problem which arises in kitchen cabinet installations in whichcabinets are arranged in an L-shaped configuration is that there occursa dead corner where two right angularly related cabinet sections cometogether. This dead corner in a conventional installation is 24 inches X24 inches, and in the past has not usually been utilized in anypractical manner. Occasionally, a base cabinet is extended into thisdead corner with shelving which is available for storage but difficultto get to, and requiring that the user get down on one knee in order toreach back into the corner.

It has also been proposed to install a Lazy Susan type of rotary rack inthe dead corner just mentioned, with the Lazy Susan being revolvableabout a vertical axis. Such an arrangement is shown, for example, byUnited States Patent 2,629,643. However, if a Lazy Susan revolving abouta vertical axis were to be installed strictly within the confines of the24 inch x 24 inch dead corner space of the conventional kitchen cabinetinstallation, the area of the Lazy Susan shelves as limited by the sizeof the largest circle which may be inscribed within the confines of thedead corner space would be so small as to reduce the storage capacity ofsuch a rack to an unacceptable minimum. Because of this, the area of thebest of the Lazy Susan racks was extended beyond the dead corner spaceand projected forwardly into the kitchen area beyond the normalperimeter of the conventional cabinet installation and laterally beyondthe dead corner area into the otherwise usable cabinet region, thusrequiring the sacrifice of valuable drawer or other storage space.

Rotary dispensing racks of this kind not only have the disadvantage thatthey must be extended beyond the confines of the dead corner area inorder to have any practical storage capacity, but also have thedisadvantage that even when so extended they are inefficient in theirutilization of the space they occupy and are unable to provide storagein depth.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro vide aFerris-wheel type of rotary dispensing rack which is particularlyadapted to fit into the dead corner space between two right-singularlyrelated cabinet sections in an L-shaped kitchen cabinet installation.

It is another object of this invention to provide in combination with akitchen cabinet installation having a dead corner space a Ferris-wheeltype of rotary rack which is confined strictly within the perimeter ofthe dead corner area and which does not project beyond the perimeter ofthe dead corner area either into the kitchen beyond the normal confinesof the cabinet structure, or into otherwise usable cabinet regions.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in combinationwith a kitchen cabinet installation having a dead corner space aFerris-wheel type of rotary rack which can be rotated about a horizontalaxis to bring the items stored by the rack substantially to counterheight, permitting removal of the stored items without stooping orkneeling.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a Patented June18, 1963 rotary dispensing rack of the Ferris-wheel type revolvableabout a horizontal axis which provides storage in depth not possiblewith rotary racks or Lazy Susan revolvable about a vertical axis, andwhich has a substantially higher efiiciency of space utilization thanrotary racks revolvable about a vertical axis.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a Ferris-wheel typerack which is inexpensive to manufacture and easily installed.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance withthe invention a Ferris-wheel type of rotary dispensing rack particularlysuited for installation in the dead corner space between two cabinetswhose lengths extend in directions at right angles to each other. Theframeworks of both the stationary and rotatable portions or theFerris-wheel rack structure are preferably formed of inexpensive metalrod material. The Ferriswheel rack includes a rotatable structure orrotor including an axle member with oppositely disposed hub memberssupported for rotation by the stationary framework of the rack. Aplurality of easily removable basket-like containers are suspended frompintles located at the outer ends of arms radiating outwardly from theoppositely disposed hubs. The baskets are loaded and unloaded through anopening in the counter top overlying the dead corner area, this openingbeing of suflicient size to permit the complete removal of an entirebasket if desired. A further feature of the construction is theprovision of a brake and detent means for properly braking the rotorduring its rotation and for stopping it when a basket reaches uppermost,i.e., loading or unloading position.

Further objects and advantages will become obvious from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention which is shownin the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a cabinet installation showing one of thebaskets of the Ferriswheel rack in position for loading or unloadingdirectly beneath the opening in the counter top;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section along the line 22 of PEG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View in vertical section parallel to the axis of rotation ofthe rotating rack structure, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view showing engagement of the rotating rackstructure with the brake and detent member mounted on the stationarysupporting framework;

FIG. 5 is a relatively enlarged view in vertical elevation showingdetails of one of the lioonmountcd bracket members by means of which thesupporting framework is anchored to wood positioning pieces or basemembers adjacent the kitchen or cabinet floor; and

FIG. 6 is a detail view, partially in section, of one of the hub membersof the rotatable rack structure.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, thereare shown two cabinet sections generally indicated at 10 and 12 whoselengths extend at right angles to each other. *In a conventional cabinetinstallation of this type, the square corner space bounded by the walls14, 16, 18 and 20' normally constitutes a dead space which is notutilized, since this space is substantially inaccessible.

In accordance with the present invention, a rotatable rack of the Ferriswheel type generaly indicated at 22 revolvable about a horizontal axisis installed within the dead corner space just defined between thecabinets 10 and 12., and an opening 26 is cut into the counter top 24 togive access to the baskets or other containers carried by the rotatingrack structure. The opening 26 in counter top 24 is closed by aremovable cover member 28 having rabbeted edges which engage theperimeter of the counter top 24 bounding the opening 26 The removablecover 28 is preferably made of maple or other hard Wood so that it maybe used as a cutting board when removed from the opening 26.

The rack structure 22 includes a stationary supporting frameworkgenerally indicated at v2.3 and a rotating framework or rotor generallyindicated at 25 which carries storage containers such as baskets 27. Thestationary supporting framework 23 includes two standards or A-framemembers respectively indicated at 39, 32, each being formed of a singlepiece of metal rod bent to include a pair of downwardly diverging legmembers 34, 36 connected at their upper ends by a cross portion 38. Thecross portion 38 includes a downwardly bent loop 4%) which forms acradle or bearing for the hub and axle of the rotating framework 25 andbaskets 27. The legs 34 and 36 of each of the standards 30, 62 are bowedslightly outwardly in a lateral direction with respect to the view shownin FIG. 2 and are also bowed slightly away from the oppositely disposedleg of the other standard as shown in FIG. 3. The bowing of legs 34, '36just described is for the purpose of counteracting any tendency for theleg members to bend inwardly which might possibly prevent properrotation of the rotating portion of the rack structure.

A metal reinforcing rod 39 extends between and is welded to leg members34, 36 of each of the standards 30, 32 approximately 6 inches above thebottoms of the legs to stiffen the frame and prevent spreading of thelegs. The height of the reinforcing rods 69 above the bottoms of legs34, 36 permits the legs to be shortened by cutting off portions of thelower ends thereof if necessary without afl'ecting the reinforcing rods39.

A metal reinforcing cross-bar 41, preferably of stiff channel shape, ispositioned adjacent the upper end of each of the standard members 30, 32between the respective leg members 34, 36, the bar being rigidlysecured, as by welding, to legs 34, 36. As best seen in FIG. 3, the bar41 of each standard carries a pair of bolts or machine screws 42 whichare received in threaded open ings in the bar, permitting adjustment ofthe length of the bolts 42 which extend axially beyond the surface ofthe bar. The bolts 42 carry rubber caps 43 or the like thereon and areadapted to bear against the adjacent walls 14, 18 bounding the cornerarea of the cabinets to provide side stability and vertical plumbing ofthe rack structure. Lock nuts 44 are screwed onto the bolts 42 toprevent the bolts from loosening due to vibration.

In order to further add to the stability of the station- 'ary framework,bar members 46, which are preferably made of wood, are drilled toreceive the ends of the reinforcing rods 39 of the oppositely disposedstandard members 30, 32, with bars 46 extending in a direction parallelto the axis of rotation of the rack between and connecting rod members39 carried by the respective standards 30 and 32.

In order to aid in anchoring rack 22 securely in position, as best seenin FIG. 2, board members 48 are posirtioned on the cabinet floor or onthe kitchen floor, as the case may be, adjacent walls 20 and 16, andextend lengthwise between the opposite walls 14 and 18 in the cornerspace. Board members 48 are cut to a length which makes them fit snuglybetween walls 14 and 18. The lower ends of the legs 34, 36 of each ofthe stand- 'ards are received in drilled openings in the respectiveboard members 48, the openings being drilled for less than the entirethickness of the boards so as to define sockets which receive the lowerends of legs 34, 36.

To further anchor the rack structure securely in position, a pair ofhold-down brackets generally indicated at 50 are provided adjacent thebottom end of each standard 30, '32, a total of four brackets 50 beingused with the two standards. As best seen in the detail view of FIG. 5,each hold-down bracket 50 includes a vertical portion 52 having at itsupper end an undercut slot 54 which hooks over the reinforcing cross rod39. The

bold-down bracket 58 also includes a horizontal leg portion 56 which isfastened by a suitable screw or other fastening means to :the WOOd board48. The bracket 50 may be bent to conform to different heights of thestandards 30, 32 for different installations, with the horizontal leg 56being correspondingly longer if vertical leg 52 is shortened. Thebracket 56 is provided with a plurality of screw holes 58 which may beused at different heights to which the bracket may be bent.

The rotating rack structure 25 which is supported for rotation by thestationary standards 30, 32 includes an axle 6b of round cross sectionwhich has attached to each of its opposite ends a hub generallyindicated at 62. Hub 62 includes a drilled passage 64 at its inner endwhich receives an end of axle 60. Axle 60 is secured to hub 62 by meansof a bolt 66 which extends through aligned drilled passages in the shankportion 68 of the hub and in the end of axle 60. A nut 70 is fastened tothe outer end of bolt 66. Each hub 62 includes a reduced neck portion72. which is received in the cradlelike loop or bearing 48 formed at theupper end of cross portion 38 of each of the standards 30, 32.

Hub 62 also includes a flange portion 74 located a short distanceinwardly of reduced neck portion 72. A plurality of generally U-shapedarm members 76 radiate equidistantly from flange 74 of each of the hubmembers, the inner ends of each of arm members 76 being rigidly attachedas by welding to the hub flange 74. In the illustrated embodiment, fiveradial arm members 76 are shown for supporting the five baskets 27 to behereinafter described. At the outer end of each arm member 76 and withinthe bight of the member, a pintle 78 is rigidly attached as by weldingto the arm.

As best seen in FIG. 4, each pintle 78 extends in a direction parallelto the axis of rotation of the rack on both sides of the arm member 76to which the pintle is attached. The axially inner end of each pintle 78serves as a support for one end of one of the wire baskets 27. For thispurpose, each basket 27 is provided at its axially opposite ends with arigidly attached loop 82 which extends outwardly from the upperperipheral edge of the basket and which engages an adjacent pintle 78.To facilitate easy removal of the basket from its two pintle supports,each loop 82 may be canted upwardly at an angle of 45 more or less.However, a very satisfactory construction involves a slight change inthe arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, by which the loops are directedstraight vertically, with the central vertical wire in each end of thebasket omitted. This permits easy removal of a basket, by slight bendingof the loops, and permits the baskets to be somewhat increased inlength.

A small steel ball 83 of inch diameter is welded to thebasket-supporting end of each pintle 78 to aid in retaining the loop 82of the basket securely in position on the pintle. The ball 83 orotherwise rounded end of each pintle 78 serves the additional importantfunction of eliminating the possibility of puncturing bags, boxes, etc.,which may be stored in the baskets. It will be seen that the loops andpintles provide a pivotal suspension for the baskets which insures thatthey will always hang in a horizontal position as the rack is rotated. i

In order to reinforce the rotating rack structure, a round steel ring 86is welded to all of the arm members 76 a short distance radiallyoutwardly of hub 6'2, so as to tie together and equalize pressure on'allof the arm members 76. A larger steel reinforcing ring 88 is welded tothe arm members 76 adjacent their outer ends. The outer ring 88cooperates with .the bights at the outer ends of the arm members toengage the pintles, which are welded to the inside or outside of thering and thus provide substantial support for the baskets under anypossible conditions of load.

To retard the motion of the rotating rack and also to hold it at aloading or unloading position as is shown in FIG. 2, for example, thereis provided a brake arm generally indicated at 90 formed of the samesteel rod material as the rest of the structure, brake arm 90 beingsuitably attached by welding or the like to the upper end of one of thestandards, e.g., standard 32. A brake shoe, in the form of a strip ofspring metal 92, is fastened to the upper end of the brake arm 90 in theperipheral path of movement of outer ring 88 of the rotating rack andalso in the path of peripheral movement of the outer ends of the pintles78.

As best seen in the view of FIG. 3, brake arm 90 is bent inwardly towardthe rotating rack structure so that metal strip 92 bears against theouter ring 88 during the rotation of the rack, thereby exerting abraking action on the rotating structure.

As one of the baskets 27 approaches the loading and unloading station,i.e., the 12 oclock position or top of its circular path, the brake shoe92 becomes engaged by the end of the adjacent pintle 78 supporting thebasket. The yieldable, flexible brake arm 90 backs slightly away fromthe rotating structure until the end of the pintle 78 snaps into thecenter indentation 94 of the shoe 92. The engagement of the pintle withthe indentation of the shoe thus serves as an indexing means to hold therotating rack structure 25 from further rotation while the basket 27 isbeing loaded or unloaded. When the user wishes to move the rotatingportion 25 of the rack to position another basket directly beneathopening 26, the upper end of brake arm 90* is pushed back to release thepintle member 78 from the indentation 94 to permit further rotation ofthe rack structure.

As a further feature of the construction, the outer ring member 88 atthe end of the rotating rack structure adjacent the standard 32 whichcarries the brake arm 90 may have auxiliary pintle members 96 Welded orotherwise suitably attached thereto at points midway between each pairof adjacent baskets. Auxiliary pintle members 96 extend from ring 88only in the direction of brake arm 90 and do not project beyond ring 88in the direction of baskets 27. The auxiliary pintle members engage theindentation 94 of brake shoe 92 to hold the rotating rack at locationsat which a pair of adjacent bas- =kets are both accessible for loadingor unloading through the top opening 26 of counter 24, with neitherbasket directly beneath the opening.

In order to avoid any possibility of the pintle members '78 or 96carried by the rotating structure from striking the legs of the verticalstandards 30, 32, each of the legs 34-, 36 is provided with an outwardbend or loop 98 adjacent the path of peripheral movement of the pintlemembers 78 and 96.

While in the illustrated embodiment the baskets 27 are made of wire-likesteel rod, they may also be fabricated of plastic material, aluminum,wood, or combinations thereof. The baskets are tapered downwardly toprovide better clearance when rotating, and to provide for nesting inshipment. The baskets are so shaped and constructed that no wire orother surface element lies directly vertically below the loops 82 so asto strike against the supporting pintles 78 when the baskets are beingremoved. A cloth or plastic liner may be used in one or more baskets forstorage of potatoes, onions, and the like, so that no dirt from thestore items may sift through the baskets. Such liners may be removedeasily for cleaning. Also, a box-like container or liner of tin,stainless steel or plastic material, having a hinged or detachablecover, may be used in one or more baskets for storage of bread, rolls,crackers, pretzels and the like.

The easy removability of the baskets which is accomplished merely bylifting them off the supporting pintles has many advantages. It permitsremoval of the baskets from the rotating frame for the purpose ofloading and unloading if desired. This feature also provides easy accessto the hubs and to the adjustable bolts on the supporting framework, aswell as to the floor below the rotating rack to retrieve a fallen objector to permit the cleaning of the floor.

While the rotary rack structure hereinbefore described has particularutility when installed in the dead corner space between two cabinetswhose lengths are at right angles to each other, as previouslydescribed, it may also be used in other cabinet installations. Forexample, the rotary rack may be used in a straight line of cabinets,with access to the rack being either from the front through a door, orfrom the top through an opening in the counter. Such an embodiment ofthe invention permits the use of baskets which are longer in thedirection of the line of cabinet length than those used in the deadcorner installation since in the straight line cabinet installationthere is no restriction on the length of the baskets to some what lessthan cabinet width, as in the dead corner installation. When the rotaryrack is installed in a straight line of cabinets without access from thetop, the brake arm may be released by a linkage operated from the frontof the cabinet.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordancewith this invention a rotary rack of the Ferris-wheel type which hasparticular utility when installed in the dead corner space between twocabinets whose lengths are at right angles to each other, but which mayalso be used in other types of cabinet installations. When used in thedead corner installation the rack may be installed strictly within theconfines of the dead corner without projecting beyond the normalperimeter of the cabinet installation and without extending into cabinetareas which can be utilized for conventional shelving, drawers or otherstorage means. The Ferris-wheel type of rack is easy to use since itcarries the baskets substantially to counter height, permitting removalof the stored items without stooping or kneeling. It provides storage indepth not possible with Lazy Susans revolvable about a vertical axis andhas a substantially higher efficiency of space utilization than suchracks. Furthermore, the rack is inexpensive to manufacture and easy toinstall.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention which has been found in actual use to be entirelysatisfactory, and which is accordingly at present preferred, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made in this exemplary construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. All such changes andmodifications are to be deemed within the true spirit of the inventionand the scope and purview of the more broadly worded of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A rotary rack structure of the Ferris-wheel type revolvable about ahorizontal axis comprising a pair of spaced vertical standard members, arotor supported for rotation by said members and including an axlemember, hub members attached to opposite ends of said axle members, aplurality of arm members extending radially outwardly from each of saidhub members, a ring member connecting the arm members of each hub memberadjacent the outer ends of the arm members, a plurality of horizontallyextending main pintles carried by said rotor in circumferentially spacedrelation to each other adjacent said ring member, a plurality of storagecontainers each having means at its opposite ends pivotally engaging theinner ends of aligned main pintles at opposite sides of said rotorwhereby each of said containers is removably supported in constantlyhorizontal position on said rotor, detent means supported by one of saidstandards adjacent the path of movement of said main pintles, each ofsaid main pintles having its outer end engageable with said detent meansto stop said rotor in a predetermined position, and auxiliary pintlemembers at one side of said rotor positioned in circumferentially spacedrelation to the container-supporting main pintles and intermediatesuccessive containers, said auxiliary pintle members being engageablewith said detent means to permit stopping said rotor in a position inwhich two successive containers are positioned at the same level abovethe other containers and equally spaced on opposite sides of the rotoraxis.

2. In combination, a first and a second kitchen cabinet each resting ona common floor surface and having their tops lying in a commonhorizontal plane providing portions of a counter surface, said cabinetshaving ends meeting at right angles to each other and having front wallsmeeting in a common vertex thereby providing immediately beyond saidends of the cabinets a corner space bounded solely by said cabinet endsand the room walls behind the cabinets, a rotary storage rack positionedin said corner space comprising a rotor revolvable about a than theWidth and length of each of said containers, and a closure mounted onsaid opening and being movable to uncover the opening for withdrawal andreplacement of any one of said containers which has been moved to thetop center of the rotor and providing access to each of any two adjacentcontainers which have been moved to topmost positions symmetricallydisposed relative to the top center of the rotor.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the closure for theopening in the counter top covering the corner space is separable fromsaid top and comprises a board having raboeted edges engaging themargins of the top surrounding the opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS"1,227,704 Ulrich May 29, 1917 1,259,080 Chittim Mar. 12, 1918 2,313,690White Mar. 9, 1943 2,629,643 Davidson Feb. 24, 1953

2. IN COMBINATION, A FIRST AND A SECOND KITCHEN CABINET EACH RESTING ONA COMMON FLOOR SURFACE AND HAVING THEIR TOPS LYING IN A COMMONHORIZONTAL PLANE PROVIDING PORTIONS OF A COUNTER SURFACE, SAID CABINETSHAVING ENDS MEETING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING FRONT WALLSMEETING IN A COMMON VERTEX THEREBY PROVIDING IMMEDIATELY BEYOND SAIDENDS OF THE CABINETS A CORNER SPACED BOUNDED SOLELY BY SAID CABINETSENDS AND THE ROOM WALLS BEHIND THE CABINETS, A ROTARY STORAGE RACKPOSTIONED IN SAID CORNER SPACED COMPRISING A ROTOR REVOLABLE ABOUT AHORIZONTAL AXIS AND A PLURALITY OF STORAGE CONTAINERS REMOVABLYSUSPENDED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EQUIDISTANTLY ON SAID ROTOR, A COUNTER TOPCOVERING SAID CORNER SPACED AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH THETOPS OF THE CABINETS SO AS TO COOPERATE THEREWITH IN PROVIDING OTHERPORTIONS OF SAID COUNTER SURFACE AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OVERSAID STORAGE RACK AN OPENING SLIGHTLY WIDER AND LONGER THAN THE WIDTHAND LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS, AND A CLOSURE MOUNTED ON SAIDOPENING AND BEING MOVABLE TO UNCOVER THE OPENING FOR WITHDRAWAL ANDREPLACEMENT OF ANY ONE OF SAID CONTAINERS WHICH HAS BEEN MOVED TO THETOP CENTER OF THE ROTOR AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO EACH OF ANY TWO ADJACENTCONTAINERS WHICH HAVE BEEN MOVED TO TOPMOST POSITIONS SYMMETRICALLYDISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE TOP CENTER OF THE ROTOR.